Queen Inheon of the Neungseong Gu clan (; 2 June 1578 – 10 February 1626), also known as Lady Gyewoon (), was the wife of Grand Internal Prince Jeongwon and the biological mother of King Injo of Joseon.
Biography Early life The future Queen Inheon was born on 2 June 1578, as the fifth daughter and second youngest child of Gu Sa-maeng and his second wife, Lady Shin of the Pyeongsan Shin clan. Her mother was the older sister of General Sin Rip.
Like her sisters, Lady Gu does have a name but the first syllable of her given name is missing (구▨완, 具▨婉). She had eleven siblings: six older brothers, four older sisters and one younger sister.
It was said that because of the shared royal blood the Queen's parents have, they were 6th cousins as they share King Sejong as their 5th great-grandparent. Gu Sa-maeng through his 4th great-grandfather, Grand Prince Yeongeung, and Lady Shin through her 4th great-grandfather, Prince Gyeyang; as both princes were half-siblings. Also making Lady Gu and her future husband 7th cousins.
Her paternal great-grandmother was Lady Shin of the Geochang Shin clan, Queen Shin's niece and Queen Dangyeong's younger paternal cousin, and her great-great-grandmother was Princess Gilan; a granddaughter of King Sejong the Great and Queen Jeongsun's paternal cousin.
Her uncle, Gu Sa-an, married Princess Hyosun, second daughter of King Jungjong and Queen Munjeong, and her great-granduncle, Gu Mun-gyeong, was the husband of Princess Hwishin; only daughter of Yeonsangun and Queen Shin, and another younger paternal cousin of Queen Dangyeong.
Marriage In 1587, the 9-year-old Lady Gu married the 7-year-old Yi Bu, Prince Jeongwon, third son of Seonjo of Joseon with Royal Noble Consort In of the Suwon Kim clan. Thus becoming a sister-in-law to Princess Jeongmyeong and Grand Prince Yeongchang. She was titled Princess Consort Yeonju () with Junior 1 rank (종1품).
In March 1623, when her eldest son, Prince Neungyang, deposed Gwanghaegun and ascended the throne as King Injo, she moved into Gyeonghuigung. After doing so, she was elevated to Princess Consort Yeonju () but was eventually given Lady Gyewoon () as a separate title.
Death Princess Consort Yeonju died on January 14, 1626, 4th year of King Injo's reign, at the age of 47. Her tomb is located in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea and is known as Jangneung ().
In 1632, she was elevated to Queen Inheon, after her husband, Grand Internal Prince Jeongwon, was posthumously honoured as King Wonjong of Joseon.
Family Father Gu Sa-maeng, Internal Prince Neungan (; 1531–1604) Mother Step – Internal Princess Consort Seowon of the Cheongju Han clan (; 1532–1554) Step-Grandfather - Han Geuk-gong () Biological - Shin Ji-hyang, Internal Princess Consort Pyeongsan of the Pyeongsan Shin clan (; 1538–1662) Siblings Older brother – Gu Seong (; 1558–1618) Older brother – Gu Hwing (; 1562–1636) Older sister – Gu Gyeong-wan (), Lady Gu of the Neungseong Gu clan (1563–1620) Older sister – Gu Hyo-wan (), Lady Gu (; 1567–?) Older sister – Gu Jeong-wan (), Lady Gu (; 1568–?) Older brother – Gu Yong (; 1569–1601) Older brother - Gu Hong (; 1569–1601) Older sister – Gu Jang-wan (), Lady Gu (; 1571–?) Older brother – Gu Gwing (; 1577–1642) Younger sister – Gu Shin-wan (), Lady Gu (; 1579–?); Ryu Chung-geol's first wife Husband Wonjong of Joseon (; 2 August 1580 – 2 February 1620)
Issue(s): Son – Yi Jong, King Injo (; 7 December 1595 – 17 June 1649) Son – Yi Bo, Grand Prince Neungwon (; 15 May 1598 – 26 January 1656) Son – Yi Jeon, Grand Prince Neungchang (; 16 July 1599 – 17 November 1615)
See also Wonjong of Joseon Injo of Joseon Queen Dangyeong
References
External links Queen Inheon in Doosan Encyclopedia